Man found dead in Oct. had lethal amounts of meth in system

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 8:15 p.m.

A toxicology report shows that a Transylvania County man found dead in a marshy area off of Porcupine Path in Lake Toxaway in October had a lethal amount of methamphetamine in his system.

Twenty-six-year-old Hank Few was last seen alive Oct. 9 by a roommate at his residence on Beaver Road, Sapphire, less than a mile from where his body was found. A family member filed a missing person’s report Oct. 11, according to the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and his body was found Oct. 13.

A preliminary forensic autopsy revealed “no anatomical cause or obvious signs of injury” to explain Few’s death. But a final autopsy and toxicology reports released Monday show that his blood contained a toxic amount of meth.

“The amount of methamphetamine found, as with any other drug, interacts and reacts differently among people,” said Lt. John Nicholson.

Numerous studies on autopsy and toxicology results show the “therapeutic level” for methamphetamine use is 0.01-0.3 milligrams per liter, according to Nicholson.

The toxicology tests for Few showed 1.8 mg/L of meth were in Few’s system.

“The values may look small, but in terms of drug toxicity, this amount falls into the lethal level of methamphetamine and is a significant amount,” Nicholson said.

A final autopsy lists the cause of death as methamphetamine toxicity, according to Nicholson.

Forensic analysts also found “a very small amount of thin, watery fluid” in Few’s airways, and said “mud lined the inner surface of the upper part of his trachea (windpipe),” consistent with inhalation of mud and water, according to Nicholson, which may have contributed to his death.

Caffeine, nicotine and less than 0.12 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of amphetamine were also found in his blood, according to the toxicology report.

The forensic autopsy was conducted Oct. 15 at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. The Chapel Hill Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted the toxicology tests on Dec. 4. The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation, is continuing the investigation.

<p>A toxicology report shows that a Transylvania County man found dead in a marshy area off of Porcupine Path in Lake Toxaway in October had a lethal amount of methamphetamine in his system. </p><p>Twenty-six-year-old Hank Few was last seen alive Oct. 9 by a roommate at his residence on Beaver Road, Sapphire, less than a mile from where his body was found. A family member filed a missing person's report Oct. 11, according to the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, and his body was found Oct. 13.</p><p>A preliminary forensic autopsy revealed “no anatomical cause or obvious signs of injury” to explain Few's death. But a final autopsy and toxicology reports released Monday show that his blood contained a toxic amount of meth. </p><p>“The amount of methamphetamine found, as with any other drug, interacts and reacts differently among people,” said Lt. John Nicholson. </p><p>Numerous studies on autopsy and toxicology results show the “therapeutic level” for methamphetamine use is 0.01-0.3 milligrams per liter, according to Nicholson. </p><p>The toxicology tests for Few showed 1.8 mg/L of meth were in Few's system. </p><p>“The values may look small, but in terms of drug toxicity, this amount falls into the lethal level of methamphetamine and is a significant amount,” Nicholson said.</p><p>A final autopsy lists the cause of death as methamphetamine toxicity, according to Nicholson. </p><p>Forensic analysts also found “a very small amount of thin, watery fluid” in Few's airways, and said “mud lined the inner surface of the upper part of his trachea (windpipe),” consistent with inhalation of mud and water, according to Nicholson, which may have contributed to his death.</p><p>Caffeine, nicotine and less than 0.12 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of amphetamine were also found in his blood, according to the toxicology report. </p><p>The forensic autopsy was conducted Oct. 15 at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. The Chapel Hill Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted the toxicology tests on Dec. 4. The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation, is continuing the investigation.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>